L.A. DERBY DOLLS SHOW WORLD HOW TO ‘WHIP IT’ IN UPCOMING DREW BARRYMORE AND ELLEN PAGE FILM

Skaters Served As Writers, Co-Stars, Trainers for Feature Film Opening Oct. 2
 
LOS ANGELES – Sept. 24, 2009 – FOX Searchlight’s upcoming feature film, WHIP IT (Oct. 2 national release), stars such luminaries as Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis but the real star of the film is the sport of roller derby.  The L.A. Derby Dolls, Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, are proud to represent the sport and its spirit of being your own hero with its participation in the film.

SoCal fans can catch WHIP IT on the big screen upon release on Oct. 2, and then visit the home of the L.A. Derby Dolls, the Doll Factory, for a live bout on Oct. 3 that will feature two of the film’s co-stars, Iron Maiven and Krissy Krash, when their team, the Tough Cookies, battle the Varsity Brawlers.

Screenwriter Shauna Cross adapted her own book and based much of the film on her experiences with the L.A. Derby Dolls (LADD), whom she skated with as an original member of the Sirens for three years as “Maggie Mayhem.” 

WHIP IT co-stars LADD skaters Kristen “Krissy Krash” Adolfi and Rachel “Iron Maiven” Piplica as the silent but deadly Manson Sisters, teammates on Page’s character’s team, the Hurl Scouts. Adolfi and Piplica are teammates on LADD’s Tough Cookies, on whom the film’s fictionalized Hurl Scouts are based. 

The film’s actresses were trained by Alex “Axles of Evil” Cohen, a popular KPCC radio host and LADD skater who also acted as a consultant for the film.  Other trainers for the film include Jennifer “Kasey Bomber” Barbee and Erin “Myna Threat” Smith, both former LADD skaters. Barbee and Cohen are currently writing a book titled DOWN AND DERBY: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO ROLLER DERBY (Soft Skull Press: 2010) which documents the sport’s history in all its do-it-yourself glory.

Adolfi and Piplica have kept busy since making their feature film debut. Piplica is the captain of the Tough Cookies, and as a respected production manager for Lucky 13 Apparel, is launching her own company creating custom roller derby uniforms for leagues, called Iron Doll Clothing.  Adolfi, captain of the LADD’s all-star team, is a health and nutrition coach.

In addition, the banked track featured in WHIP IT was built and designed by Kitten Traxx’s Bitchy Kitten, the architect behind LADD’s track.  While there are more than 400 flat track leagues nationwide, there are only five banked track leagues. The thrilling slopes of the banked track create the ultimate spectator sport, but are costly to house.